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Schutt Vision helmet cameras offer Rutgers coaches a new way to dissect quarterback play

Rising senior Gary Nova and the other four co-starter quarterbacks for Rutgers all are wearing Schutt Vision helmet cameras during spring practice. (Tanya Breen/MyCentralJersey.com)

If enough eyes weren’t already focused on quarterbacks, football coaches now have the option to literally see the action develop as their signal-callers do.

The Rutgers football team is using Schutt Vision – which records everything in an athlete’s field of vision – during its spring football practices. All five quarterbacks competing for the starting job are wearing the helmet-cams above the bridge of their nose, and the film is reviewed post-practice.

“It’s really been a helpful teaching tool for us as a program, for the coaches to be able to look at the film and see exactly where the quarterbacks eyes are before the snap, where they are looking during the play,” Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said. “I think it’s just one more piece of information that (offensive coordinator Ralph) Friedgen and his staff can use to help coach those quarterbacks and make sure that everything we’re doing is in the right sequence up until the point they throw the ball.”

Introduced at the 2014 American Football Coaches Convention in Indianapolis by Schutt, a longtime name in helmet manufacturing, Schutt Vision could be the answer sought for years by coaches interested in better understanding the decision-making of players.

Rutgers purchased the cameras during the offseason and isn’t alone. Nebraska is using them in its spring practice and the Arena Football League announced a partnership earlier this year with Sports Video Innovations, producers of Schutt Vision.

The cameras do not allow for any audio communication between quarterbacks and coaches as is the case with NFL helmets.

“What you can see right away is some of the younger guys and how many different things they are looking at in the wrong sequence,” Flood said. “With a more experienced quarterback there is almost a calmness to the video as you watch it. With a less experienced quarterback there almost is a hurried or a rushed vision. You can say that to a younger player but when they see it themselves it’s like, ‘Wow, what am I doing? Why are my eyes moving all over the place?’”

Of Rutgers’ five quarterbacks eligible to play next season, only Gary Nova (28 career starts) ever has taken a snap in a college game. Mike Bimonte, Chris Laviano, Blake Rankin and Devin Ray are getting the first truly extensive looks of their careers during spring practice.

“We’ve seen a marked improvement from practice one to practice two,” Flood said. “I’m anxious to see now – with the pads being on the defense being a little bit more involved – have we still made progress or have we reverted again? It will be interesting to see as spring goes on.”

All of the film review is leading up to Flood’s decision to distribute the quarterback repetitions differently (read: less even) come Tuesday’s practice. And, ultimately, to the naming of a starter for the 2014 season.

“I thought there was some good and some bad today,” Flood said of the quarterback play in the third practice. “It was the first time that we saw some blitzes in practice. I don’t know that we handled those as well as we would have liked to. My expectations are a little higher. But I want to go back and look at the throws and make sure the routes are being run where we want them to before I really critique it.”

About Ryan Dunleavy

Ryan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.

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About the Author

Jerry CarinoJerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.E-mail Jerry

Josh NewmanJosh Newman has worked for the Press since September 2004 and began covering Shore Conference sports full time in September 2006. He is a 2004 graduate of Springfield College with a degree in communications/sports journalism.E-mail Josh

Ryan DunleavyRyan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.E-mail Ryan